Aircraft Dirt

[HarryBetts]

code a system for DCS where if your flying in a desert (Syria, PG etc) over a period of time you will start to get dust and dirt on your aircraft.

 

This would be an amazing feature for immersion.

[II.JG1_Vonrd]

How about an accumulation of smashed bugs? 

[HarryBetts]

1 hour ago, II.JG1_Vonrd said:

How about an accumulation of smashed bugs? 

That could work too

[cfrag]

Unlike hobby planes, Combat Aircraft are being maintained. And bugs, dirt, sand etc. are removed meticulously. For each flight hour, a modern (combat) jet spends some 40 hours in maintenance. Yeah, they'll have time to clean it. Put differently: few pilots are suicidal enough to fly a badly maintained aircraft, much less a badly maintained aircraft designed to carry weapons.

So it wouldn't be immersive at all. It would be completely unrealistic - but perhaps a nice visual gadget, like lens flare.

[II.JG1_Vonrd]

Have you actually seen military aircraft in real life? Here's a Reddit post from an F-16 crew chief replying to a question as to why the belly is so dirty:

I used to be an F-16 Crew Chief, and in reality these jets are absolutely filthy. This one would actually be considered very clean - in the real world you'll typically see them with grease streaks across panels both on the underside and up top unless the people assigned to the jet are meticulous about wiping them down. But, because of the extreme labor demands of the job of maintaining these jets, often time wiping them down and keeping them looking clean just isn't a priority outside of aircraft washes required every 6 months or so (mileage may vary depending on which airforce owns any given F-16). Landing gear and wheels also get positively coated in brake dust.

Link: 

 

I was not in the military but have seen lots of crusty military aircraft transit through our airport. I would imagine that while in a combat event airworthiness will always trump cosmetic appearance. I was an aircraft mechanic in GA and can attest to working aircraft often being filthy. 

Actually, my comment to the OP was somewhat tongue in cheek since this would probably be pretty low in the Dev's priorities. 

 

[Tom P]

On 4/19/2025 at 2:58 AM, cfrag said:

Unlike hobby planes, Combat Aircraft are being maintained. And bugs, dirt, sand etc. are removed meticulously. For each flight hour, a modern (combat) jet spends some 40 hours in maintenance. Yeah, they'll have time to clean it. Put differently: few pilots are suicidal enough to fly a badly maintained aircraft, much less a badly maintained aircraft designed to carry weapons.

So it wouldn't be immersive at all. It would be completely unrealistic - but perhaps a nice visual gadget, like lens flare.

Maybe in garrison when white wheels win wars. But on deployment they get pretty dirty

[Lace]

On 4/19/2025 at 2:23 AM, II.JG1_Vonrd said:

How about an accumulation of smashed bugs? 

At least there would be a reason to stow the TGP on take off & climb out.

[theRealTrickFlare]

On 4/19/2025 at 12:58 AM, cfrag said:

Unlike hobby planes, Combat Aircraft are being maintained. And bugs, dirt, sand etc. are removed meticulously. For each flight hour, a modern (combat) jet spends some 40 hours in maintenance. Yeah, they'll have time to clean it. Put differently: few pilots are suicidal enough to fly a badly maintained aircraft, much less a badly maintained aircraft designed to carry weapons.

So it wouldn't be immersive at all. It would be completely unrealistic - but perhaps a nice visual gadget, like lens flare.

I never want to meet the fighter pilot who won't fly a plane because it's got bugs and dirt on it bahahahahahahaha